There is a possibility the Israeli embassy in Ukraine might have to move to neighboring Poland, Israeli Ambassador to Ukraine Michael Brodsky told Reshet Bet on Friday morning in a radio interview. The subject will be discussed in a Ministry later on today.
"We are currently in a sort of a shelter. There are sirens going off now, the moment we will have to evacuate is drawing near. The situation does not look good. There is a possibility to put a consul service stand near the border," said Brodsky.
Following an assessment of the Foreign Ministry, the activities of the Israeli Ministry in Lviv and the security work environment, Foreign Minister Yair Lapid decided to continue the activities of the Foreign Ministry's task force and Israeli embassy in Lviv at this stage.
500 Israeli citizens crossed the border to Poland safely by Thursday, with the help of diplomats of the Foreign Ministry, and the Israeli Embassy in Ukraine. The embassy and the staff of the Foreign Ministry situation room and consular division are in telephone contact with the remaining thousands of Israelis who remained in Ukraine. There are currently about 8,800 people registered in the embassy, 5,840 citizens and 3,000 first-degree relatives who are not citizens.
The Israeli embassy staff began moving their embassy from Kyiv to Lviv on Monday.
Read more on the Ukraine-Russia War:
- Day 2 of the Ukraine-Russia War
- Ukraine crisis: Russia wants to take Kyiv: Here's how they might do it
- Ukraine's President Zelensky: I'm Russia's number one target
- US asked Israel to support UNSC condemnation of Russia
- Israel Ambassador to Ukraine: The moment to evacuate is drawing near
Foreign Minister Yair Lapid spoke with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday night about the safety of some 8,000 Israelis who are in Ukraine.
Israeli embassies sent on Thursday representatives to the border crossings of countries neighboring Ukraine, including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania and Moldova. Foreign Ministry asked those who have not yet done so to register on its website to receive updates and act accordingly.